Women’s Group Protests Limbaugh Capitol Honor

during a news conference for judges in the 2010 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino January 27, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pageant will be held at the resort on January 30, 2010.Getty/Ethan Miller

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Women’s rights groups say they’ve delivered petitions bearing 35,000 signatures to the speaker of the Missouri House opposing his plan to induct Rush Limbaugh into the Hall of Famous Missourians.

About 200 people from abortion rights and women’s groups rallied at the Capitol on Wednesday. The groups say talk radio host showed disrespect to women last month when he described a law student as a “slut” and “prostitute.” Limbaugh has since apologized for his language.

House Speaker Steven Tilley, a Republican from Perryville, confirmed earlier this month that he has commissioned a bronze bust of Limbaugh to be placed among other honorees inside the Capitol.

Tilley says Limbaugh is an important, if controversial, figure in Missouri’s history. Limbaugh is from Cape Girardeau.